Adriana Escobedo remembers the joy of getting a box of toys each Christmas that contained puzzles, bouncy balls, coloring books and stuffed animals.

The presents were given through the generosity of the Houston Chronicle's Goodfellows program, which provides toys for children whose families need help because of unemployment, illness or other family circumstances.

Now a parent herself, Escobedo, 21, is counting on Goodfellows to help her son Zachary.

The single mom works full time to make ends meet, but struggles with extras like Christmas gifts.

The Houston native said she is trying to catch a break.

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How to donate

To contribute and learn more about the Goodfellows toy drive, please visit chron.com/goodfellows or call 713-362-2273. Checks can be sent to Goodfellows, c/o Houston Chronicle, 801 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002.

In the fall of 2010, Escobedo was a high school senior gearing up for the start of basketball season. A few months into the first semester, she was diagnosed with lupus.

Escobedo said her body ached and her doctor put her on 12 different daily medications.

"There was a point when I took steroids, and my face got really big. I just blew up," she said. "I was in my doctor's office crying because my prom was coming up."

Initially she hadn't planned on attending the high school dance because her mother was out of work and she couldn't afford a dress. But with the help of a family friend, Escobedo found a dress and made it to the prom.

Shortly before graduation, Escobedo received the news that she could not have children because of a medication she was taking to control her lupus.